ians.--This he has found out
from the confessions of Parthos.--Nero hears Acte's voice singing a
Miserere, but commands his guards to conceal themselves.--

The Christians, among them Acte and Marcus, believing themselves safe
in the stormy night, at last emerge from the mountain caves, and at a
sign from Nero are surrounded by the Pretorian guards.

Nero seizes Acte and tries to win back her love, but Acte remains firm,
and she so infuriates her royal lover, that he threatens her with his
dagger.--Old Marcus stepping between, only rouses the Emperor's anger
to a higher pitch, while Tigellinus denounces the old man as Nero's
rival and the cause of Acte's flight. Both are led away as captives
with their Christian brethren to Rome.

The last Act takes place on the terrace of the Palatine.

{523}

Lovely dances beguile the weary hours for Nero, lying on his couch, a
prey to love and hatred. Tigellinus tries to rouse his pride by
relating to him the last interview between Marcus and Acte overheard by
him.

He describes the old man's exhortations and glowing promises of a
better life, and Acte's calm courage and deep faith, and Nero cries:
"She must be mine, or she dies!"--At this moment the Christians are
heard, greeting Caesar as they pass the palace on their way to
death.--Acte is not with them, she is now brought before Nero with
Marcus, for whom she implores Nero's pardon.--But it is in vain; Nero
falls upon the originator of his woes, and kills him with his own
hands.--

In this moment flames are seen leaping up in the streets of Rome.

Tigellinus hurries in, exclaiming that the people accuse their Emperor
of having set the city on fire, and already their furious cry is heard:
"Death to the red Caesar!"

Beside himself with rage and fear Nero seizes Acte, and throwing her
down from the terrace amongst the people, he accuses the Christians of
having set fire to the town. Acte perishes a victim to the fury of the
people, while Nero cries out: "Burn O Rome, burn, Nero greets Thee!"

{524}

EUGENE ONEGIN.

Lyric Scenes in three acts by P. J. TSCHAIKOWSKY.

Text after Puschkin's poem of the same name.

Tschaikowsky's opera, long known and so intensely popular throughout
Russia, that many of its melodies have become household-properties, has
taken a long time to penetrate into other countries. But wherever it
has been represented, its success was great and its impression upon the
public deep an